Storage cell or battery and electrode therefor



July s, 1924.

R. C. BENNER STORAGE CELL OR BATTERY AND ELECTRODE THEREFOR Filed May 5,1922 Patented July 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND C. BENNER, OF BAYSIDE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THE PREST-O'LITE COMPANY, INC.. NEW YORK.

STORAGE CELL 0R BATTERY 'Application ined May a,

To aZZ whom z't may concern.: Be it known that I, RAYMOND C. BENNER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Bayside, in the county ofQueens and State of New York. have invented certain new and usefulImprovements 'in Storage Cells or Batteries and Electrodes Therefor, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to storage cells and batteries. particularlythose of the miniature type adapted for use in iashlights or otherelectrical apparatus in' which a small, readily portable storage cell orbattery is required. The invention resides in certain describedarrangements of the electrodes in light, acid resistant casings. such asmay be formed from Celluloid, and in the assembly of Celluloid encasedcells to form batteries of improved type.

It is the vprincipal object of the present invention to provide light.weight. rechargeable storage cells in which the shedding of activematerial is prevented, and in which the rate of deterioration'on shelfis low.

The invention will be described in detail in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in whichig. 1 is a front elevation of a batteryhaving the active material encased in celluloid or the like.

F ig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line II-II, Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified form of container for theactive material, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal transverse section on line 11T-JV, Fig. 3.

y -Referring first to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral ldenotes a shallow rectangular box or container formed of a suitableelectrolyte-proof material. I prefer to make rthe container ofcelluloid, though a number of othersubstances, such yas rubber, phenolicvcondensation products, and the like, may be used, A grid 2, of anysuitable type, is placed at or near the bottom of container 1, and a lug3 formed upon the grid extends through a slot 4 inside wall 5. Container,1 is filled with active material 6, which is suitably compacted upongrid 2 and leveled to correspond to the height of the side wall 5. Alayer of electrolyte absorbent r7, such as glass wool or other inert,porous substance,

.OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF AND ELEGTRODE THEREFOR.

1922. Serial No. 558,110.

is placed upon the mass of active material and a perforated separator 8rests upon the absorbent, the margin of the separator being turned downto overlap the container y1. The separator is preferably made ofcelluloid.

As will be clear from Fig. 2, the assembly so far described is induplicate. Between the two assemblies, and separated from them bycorrugated rubber spacers 9, is a central rectangular frame 10, similarto containers l, but without. a bottom.` A grid 11 is placed centrallyin frame l0, and has a lug 12 extending through a slot in the frame. Theactive material is packed on both sides of grid l1, and a layer ofelectrolyte absorbent 7 and a separator 8, which ma)r be of the typepreviously described, are placed on each side of the active material.Bands l of acid resistant material may be placed about the electrodes toretain themmin assembled position. *The three l encased masses of activematerial are arranged as shown and placed in a suitable container 14,adapted to contain electrolyte. It will be seen that the electrolyte cancomeinto contact with the active material only on the faces which opposeeach other, and that the construction is adapted to prevent shedding ofthe material. The grid is situated as far as possible from the activesurface, thereby reducing local action and corrosion of the grid.

The battery illustrated is preferably of the lead-sulfuric acid-leadperoxide type, the' active material in containers 1 being lead peroxideand that in frame 10 being finely divided lead. However, the inventionis not limited to this particular form of battery nor to t-he specificarrangement shown.

Instead of the absorbent 7 and perforated).

separator 8, I may use one or more sheets of porous, acid resistantmaterial, to space the electrodes. Such sheets arepreferably formed fromav composition of cellulosic ber and soluble silicate as described andclaimed in my application Ser. No. 530,943, filed January 2l, 1922. v

In the form of 'the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a trough-shapedcontainer 14', of Celluloid or the like, is provided.

A conductive support 15, triangular in cross 1 section, hasoutstandingarms 16, adapted to be received in the trough-shaped contamerand to support active material therein. A lug 17 on the grid extendsoutwardly from the'container, passing through a cap member 18. rIhecontainer has a bottom 19 and is secured to the active material support15 by a strip 2O cemented to the container and support. Celluloid is thepreferred material for the container. Either positive or negativematerial may be filled into containers of the kind shown in Figs. 3 and4c, and they may be arranged in any suitable manner in a jar or casingadapted to contain electrolyte.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to place the electrodesof small storage cells in a Celluloid casing, and I do not claim suchconstruction broadly. The present invention presents many features otnovelt and of practical advantage, as exempli ed in the devicesspecifically described herein, but it Will be understood that variousmodifications of structure and arrangement ot parts may be made withoutloss of the advantages of the invention, and that such modiiications areWithin its scope as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. AV storage cell comprising a container, active material andelectrolyte therein, and an impervious, acid resistant means preventingexposure of an extended portion of the surface of the active material tothe action of the electrolyte, whereby action upon the active materialis restricted to the desired area.

2. A storage cell comprising a container, active material andelectrolyte therein, and an impervious layer of Celluloid covering anextended portion of the surface of the active material and preventingaccess of electrolyte thereto. A

3. An electrode for storage batteries, commodaal prising an imperviouscasing having an open portion and formed of acid resistant,non-conductive materlal, a conductor 1n said casing, active material incontact with said l conductor, and a cover for the open por- 4 means forretaining the electrodes and sep,-V

arators in assembled relation.

5. A storage battery comprising a container, electrolyte therein,electrodes com prising active material and a conductor in an impervious,acid resistant, non-conductive casing having an open portion, perforatemeans covering the open portion of the casings and permitting access ofthe electrolyte to the active material, an electrode yoit polarityopposite to said first men tioned electrodes, and means for retainingthe several electrodes in spaced operative relation.

6. An electrode for storage batteries, com prising an impervious casinghaving an open portion and formed of acid-resistant, non-conductivematerial, active material in said casing, and a conductor positioned inthe active material at a place remote from the open portion of thecasing, whereby corrosion ot the conductor is reduced.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature.

RAYMOND C. BENNER.

